Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-05-06

I'M. NJ. Backus in American Angler


An intelligent correspondent in last
weeks InglCT complains of the want of
fishways in the Vermont rivers. As all
the streams emptying into Lake Cham
plain on the west and east sides are oh.
structed by falls at no great distances
from their mouths, it would appear an
absolute necessity to build fishways. If
the residents along the rivers are to have
those fish which are so abundant in the
lake; but If they are to wait until our
Legislators build fshways they may have
to die without the sight There Is a great
and good time coming, but it is some dis
lance off yet. Meanwhile we record
what has been done for our streams in
Vermont as 1t may perhaps encourage
some angler on the Winooski the La.
noble and the Missisquoi to go and do
likewise.
The Otter Creek runs for more than 30
miles parallel with the lake shore at a
distance of - miles from it along the base
of the Green Mountains, and after receiv-
ing numerous mountain brooks in its
course-fairly good trout streams by the
way-finally turns sharply west at
Vergennes and, plungng down the falls
the lake some seven miles below Though
called creek, it is virtually an important
river of considerable magnitude with an
untailing supply of water, and with deep
pools aud long stretches of quiet water,
beside occasional rapids and rifles. II
never freezes to the bottom 1t was once
a prolific trout stream, long "before the
war" but at that time it was wooded
and shady stream, whereas now it runs
through cultivated fields with many
a thriving and busy village on its banks.
The trout are now found only in its
mountain aflluents.
Not more than 10 years ago some gen.
Jus in fit of spiraton-w whether in
the body or out of the body no one can
teil-toOk a few black bass from the lake
and put them in the Otter Creek above the
falls. The result of this modest little
deed is that today the Otter Creek abounds
IN that noble game fish Vergennes
claims to have done the deed, and names
its man. Rutland also claims to have
done it, and also names its man. How
ever that may be, the deed was done, and
we all enjoy the result. For five thousand
years the black bass had been in the lake.
indigenous to its waters, and only needed
a little lift of 40 feet over that fall to en-
able them to populate and dominate the
Otter Creek. They are there to stay, and
Will declare themselves in all future
years. They have displaced no trout, as
that fish had already displaced himself.
Ihey do not pursue the trout up the
brooks, those waters being too narrow
for their habitation.
Burlington and st. Adams both have
many skillful and generous anglers, and
they have only to take the hint and people
these streams for all future time. 1t can
not be spoken of so confidently of trans
planting the wall-eyed pike, rs that fish
seems to prefer waters of great depth,
where it also finds the fry of herring and
smelt of small fish.
1t may not be inopportune to add in this |
connection that the lake itself can be sue
cessfully restocked with lake trout; but
not by an easy or interrupted effort. The |
laws OF Vermont permit the use of the
seine during October and November to
catch whitefsh in these months the lake |
trout is spawning and seeks for that pur-
pose the very spot where the seines are
drawn. You cannot eat your cake and |
have it too. The lake trout Is easily
hatchej artificially, and its fry should be !
depositt d in the lake at various points to |
the number of million annually. The
expense would be nominal; it would re-
pay thousand fold. If Fish Commission.
err Bralnerd had proper support and en-
it would be begun this very
year. If the Delaware and Hudson Rail
road company on the west shore could be
made to see the pecuniary benefit to its
it would be begun this very
year. There's millions in it, If the
Central Vermont railroad could be made
to see 1t, 1t would be begun this very
year Commercially 1t would pay. A
lake trout taken in summer from deep
cool water is in its best state, and match
Tor any salmon at that season, and when
the market fishermen once learn its value
and find their interest in protecting the
waters against senes and spears and dyn-
amite, the work for which anglers have
been pleading and toiling for years will
be accomplished. John Browns soul
IS marching on and the millennium is at
hand